Ever heard of hirsutism? Well, possibly not. However, I’m sure you’ve come across women that are just as hairy as men (or even hairier). I have seen a couple of extremely hairy women. I remember having a classmate who was really hairy back in college. She had a lot of facial hair, even more than that of some of the boys. She was largely withdrawn and rarely spoke to anyone because of this condition. Recently, I ran into her at a mall, and we exchanged pleasantries and contacts. I noticed she was still largely withdrawn: just as she had been back at college. Of course, the issue with the facial hair was still present. This prompted me to do a bit of research on the condition. I came across ‘hirsutism’; a medical condition that explains why some women are extremely hairy. I’ll share what I discovered with you. Let’s get talking!
What is Hirsutism?
You should be able to take a wild guess on what hirsutism is by now. Just to make it even clearer, hirsutism is a condition of excess male-patterned hair growth in women. Women who suffer this condition usually have excessive amounts of hair; especially around body areas where men typically grow hair like the chest, face, and back. About 40% of women, globally, suffer from hirsutism. In some cases, hirsutism may be an indicator of a more serious medical condition like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
Hirsutism should not be confused with hypertrichosis. Hypertrichosis refers to excessive hair growth around the body; not necessarily a male-patterned hair growth.
What are the Causes of Hirsutism?
Hirsutism is primarily caused by hormonal imbalance. Now, typically, when a young lady reaches the age of puberty, her body begins to secrete a number of hormones to aid her development into adulthood. These hormones are usually a combination of male and female hormones; the male hormones are responsible for the growth of hair around the pubic area and in the armpits. The female hormones, on the other hand, are responsible for the development of adult female characteristics like pelvic enlargements, menstruation and the development of breasts. When there is an imbalance in the secretion of the male and female hormones such that there is a higher secretion of male hormones in a female, then hirsutism may occur.
Hirsutism may also develop as a symptom of more serious medical conditions like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormonal condition that results from an imbalance in sex hormones in women. PCOS may lead to infertility, obesity and irregular menstruation. Other medical conditions like the Cushing’s syndrome and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia may also bring about hirsutism.
Sometimes, rare medical conditions like the development of an androgen-secreting tumor in the ovaries of a woman may also result in hirsutism. Also, there are some medications that a woman will take which will result in the development of hirsutism. Experts also suggest that higher insulin secretion in women may trigger increased secretion of androgens like testosterone in women and this may lead to the development of hirsutism.
Hirsutism may also develop genetically, that is, as a result of your family traits. Strangely, however, sometimes there may be no known causes of hirsutism.
What are the Symptoms?
Obviously, the most common symptom of hirsutism is the excessive growth of stiff and dark body hair around areas where women do not experience hair growth, usually. Apart from this, however, there are a number of other symptoms that women who are suffering from hirsutism may experience. These include: hair loss, acne breakouts around the face, deepening of the voice, a decrease in the size of the breasts, an overall increase in the body’s muscle mass and, the enlargement of the clitoris.
When any of these are noticed, it is advised that you visit your healthcare provider in order to know treatment and management options for this condition. Remember that hirsutism could be the symptom of a more serious medical condition.
Let’s Talk about the Risk Factors
There are a number of genetic factors and lifestyle habits that may put you at risk of developing hirsutism. For some persons, hirsutism is a family trait. In this case, medical conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome and congenital adrenal hyperplasia; which are known causes of hirsutism, are genetically rooted in their families. Hence, women in this category can rarely escape from the condition.
For some women, hirsutism is an ancestral issue. Now, I don’t know whether it is something that has to do with the weather or with the food that they eat but experts say that women whose ancestral roots can be linked to the Middle East and the Southern part of the Asian continent have high chances of developing hirsutism. The strangest part is that they may develop hirsutism for no reason. Weird right?
Apart from ancestral causes and family history, this condition may also develop in women who are obese. According to experts, excessive body weight can increase your chances of developing hirsutism; especially in women who already have PCOS. Apparently, avoiding hirsutism is one more reason you may want to shed off the excess calories and fat.
Heads Up!
So what’s so bad in women having excessive facial, chest and neck hairs? I’ll tell you now. Women who suffer this condition are more likely to become depressed and withdrawn because of the social stigma that they are prone to. They become overly self-conscious and this may cause them to be disinterested in their everyday activities. It can also affect their appetite and energy level.
I have already mentioned earlier that it could be a sign of more serious medical conditions. As I said, be sure to visit your doctor once you notice any of the symptoms that have been highlighted.
I don’t want to Have Hirsutism. What can I Do?
Unfortunately, hirsutism is one of those things that just happen. You cannot exactly prevent this condition. However, burning off excess calories may just reduce your chances of developing this condition; especially if you are already diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
Finding Out
When you visit your healthcare provider for hirsutism diagnosis, a hormonal test will most likely be carried out to determine your body’s androgen levels. After this, you may have to go through a CT scan or ultrasound to check for the growth of tumors and cysts in your ovaries. Some doctors may carry out a pelvic examination on their patients to determine if there are any growths around the pelvic area.
Are there any Treatment Options?
Thankfully, yes! There are a number of medications and self-care options that can be used to manage this condition. Oral contraceptives and anti-androgens are a few medications that can be taken to trigger hair loss. You may also make use of topical cream too. However, it is important to note that these medications can lead to moderate to severe side effects like dizziness, nausea, stomach pain or even birth deformities, in cases of pregnant women.
Other treatment options include laser therapy and electrolysis. These methods will bring about a permanent removal of the hairs. However, they can be really painful and there are a number of side effects that come with them such as numbness of the skin, burns and skin discoloration.
Waxing, shaving, and plucking are popular self-care methods that you can adapt to get rid of the excess hairs.
Final Words…
I’ve fixed a lunch date with my old classmate and I’ll be sure to tell her all that I now know about hirsutism. Remember that people who suffer this condition are human. Be sure to help them by sharing what you’ve learned today. Do not discriminate!
